Artificial Intelligence in Singapore

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the study and use of intelligent machine learning to mimic human action and thought. With the availability of Big Data, advances in computing, and the invention of new algorithms, AI has risen as a disruptive technology in recent years. Singapore is at the forefront of leveraging AI and machine learning to drive innovation and growth in a range of industries.

Leveraging opportunities in AI to improve lives and transform businesses.

Whether it’s rendering better healthcare or servicing the banking needs of our seniors, AI can be applied to a variety of industries in Singapore to create better living, stronger communities, and more opportunities for all. Singapore is embracing this transformative technology, with businesses and institutions across the country using AI and machine learning to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience.

With much to gain, Singapore is looking to develop niches within AI R&D, building local capabilities and fostering partnerships across relevant parties.

Exploring how generative AI could transform the future of work globally, and in Singapore particularly, IMDA's Assistant Chief Executive Terence Chia spoke with Sanjna Parasrampuria, partner at McKinsey Singapore and Kathryn Kuhn, an alumnus of McKinsey’s Digital Practice. Against the rise of GenAI and its massive increase in usage and value, the discussion explored several critical questions such as: How will generative-AI affect the workforce? How do companies deal with governance, risk, and cybersecurity? How should companies create a workforce with the necessary skills to use generative AI to the company’s advantage?

ACE Terence and Kathryn focused on generative-AI’s ability to unlock potential and boost innovation and suggested solutions to the many challenges — for example, looking beyond tech talent to other vital roles such as AI risk or compliance officers, or, starting AI training at school level to foster skilled people entering the workforce, and continuing that training up to the C-suite. He also shared how Singapore is already tackling many of these hurdles through programmes such as IMDA’s TechSkills Accelerator, and its plan to continue to do so. The conversation led to the conclusion that collaboration is vital to ensure that leadership and talent are future-ready, and that companies look to capture the significant value, rather than be distracted by the power of generative AI.

IMDA develops foundational AI products to speed up access and adoption of AI in enterprises. At IMDA, we believe that AI can be accessible for every enterprise, regardless of size. To that end, we have built AI minimum viable products (MVPs) for a few pilot industries for anyone to use. 

IMDA in partnership with AI Singapore (AISG) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), has launched the National Multimodal LLM Programme (NMLP) in Dec 2023. Funded by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF), the S$70 million initiative will grow Singapore’s research and engineering capabilities in multi-modal large language model (LLM) and develop the first regional large language model that understands the context and values related to the diverse cultures and languages of Southeast Asia.

The programme will:

• Build skilled AI talent, providing researchers and engineers funding and access to high end computing to develop capabilities in pre-training LLMs otherwise not possible in research work on smaller models or just by fine-tuning.
• Foster a thriving AI industry, to develop LLM-enabled solutions. This effort will foster collaboration with industry partners to provide a conducive environment to catalyse the development of novel AI enterprise use cases.
• Enable Singapore to build a trusted digital environment in using AI, providing a deeper understanding of how LLMs work and further AI Governance research (e.g. developing AI testing tools for the responsible use of AI).

An initiative of SkillsFuture, TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) aims to build and develop a skilled Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workforce for Singapore’s digital economy. TeSA is driven by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and in collaboration with the industry, SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and the National Trades Union Congress. IMDA takes an integrated approach to ICT skills acquisition and practitioner training, enabling professionals to acquire the relevant in-demand skills.

For more information, click on TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) .

The SMEs Go Digital programme aims to help SMEs use digital technologies and build stronger digital capabilities to seize growth opportunities in the digital economy. Advanced Digital Solutions (ADS) is an initiative under the SMEs Go Digital programme in collaboration with the ITM Lead Agencies. ADS supports the adoption of advanced technologies (e.g., AI, Robotics, Blockchain and the Internet of Things) and integrated solutions (e.g., B2B solutions that integrate inventory management, e-invoicing, and e-payments) that address common enterprise-level challenges at scale. For more information, click on Advanced Digital Solutions (ADS).

To support companies in gaining hands-on experience with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), IMDA and Enterprise Singapore have launched the GenAI Sandbox for SMEs which features a curated list of GenAI-powered solutions that are simple to deploy and use. These solutions will allow SMEs from various sectors to elevate their marketing and sales, and customer engagement efforts. SMEs who participate in the sandbox are eligible to receive funding support to trial these GenAI solutions over a three-month period. More information and registration details for the GenAI Sandbox for SMEs can be found at CTOaas site.

IMDA had developed AI Verify, an AI governance testing framework and a software toolkit. The testing framework consists of 11 AI ethics principles which jurisdictions around the world coalesce around, and are consistent with internationally recognised AI frameworks such as those from EU, OECD and Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework. AI Verify helps organisations validate the performance of their AI systems against these principles through standardised tests.

*The 11 governance principles are transparency, explainability, repeatability / reproducibility, safety, security, robustness, fairness, data governance, accountability, human agency and oversight, inclusive growth, societal and environmental well-being.

The testing processes comprises technical tests and process checks. The AI Verify toolkit is a single integrated software toolkit that operates within the user’s enterprise environment. It enables users to conduct technical tests on their AI models and record process checks. The toolkit then generates testing reports for the AI model under test. User companies can be more transparent about their AI by sharing these testing reports with their shareholders.

AI Verify can currently perform technical tests on common supervised-learning classification and regression models for most tabular and image datasets. AI Verify cannot test Generative AI/LLMs. AI Verify does not set ethical standards, neither does it guarantee AI systems tested will be completely safe or be free from risks or biases.

AI Verify was first developed in consultation with companies from different sectors and of different scales. These companies include AWS, DBS, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Singapore Airlines, NCS/LTA, Standard Chartered, UCARE.AI and X0PA. AI Verify was subsequently released in May 2022 for an international pilot, which attracted the interest of over 50 local and multinational companies, including Dell, Hitachi and IBM.

As AI testing technologies are still nascent and growing, there is a need to crowd in the best expertise globally to advance in this area. IMDA has therefore set up the AI Verify Foundation to harness the collective power and contributions of the global open source community to develop AI Verify testing tools for the responsible use of AI. The Foundation will boost AI testing capabilities and assurance to meet the needs of companies and regulators globally.

The not-for-profit Foundation will:

• Foster a community to contribute to the use and development of AI testing frameworks, code base, standards, and best practices
• Create a neutral platform for open collaboration and idea-sharing on testing and governing AI
• Nurture a network of advocates for AI and drive broad adoption of AI testing through education and outreach

AI Verify Foundation has seven premier members, namely, Aicadium, Google, IBM, IMDA, Microsoft, Red Hat and Salesforce, who will set strategic directions and development roadmap of AI Verify. The Foundation also has more than 60 general members. For more information, visit our Foundation website. 

Model AI Governance Framework

On 23 January 2019, Singapore released its first edition of the Model AI Governance Framework (“Model Framework”) for broader consultation, adoption and feedback. The framework provides detailed and readily implementable guidance to private sector organisations to address key ethical and governance issues when deploying AI solutions. By explaining how AI systems work, building good data accountability practices, and creating open and transparent communication, the framework aims to promote public understanding and trust in technologies.

On 21 January 2020, Singapore released the second edition of the Model AI Governance Framework.

The second edition includes additional considerations (such as robustness and reproducibility) and refines the original Model Framework for greater relevance and usability. For instance, the section on customer relationship management has been expanded to include considerations on interactions and communications with a broader network of stakeholders. The second edition of the Model Framework continues to take a sector- and technology-agnostic approach that can complement sector-specific requirements and guidelines.

Access the second edition of the Model Framework, and the primer (640.36KB) for more details.

The AI Verify Foundation (AIVF) and IMDA have published the Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI, expanding on the second edition of the Model AI Governance Framework in 2020 covering Traditional AI. This is the first comprehensive framework pulling together different strands of global conversation surrounding AI governance.

To drive awareness of the benefits and understand the challenges of AI (such as on ethics and legal issues), IMDA is engaging key stakeholders including the government, industry, consumers, and academia to collaboratively shape the government’s plans for the AI ecosystem in Singapore.

The such discourse will inform the government’s plans to support Singapore as a hub for AI development and innovation, and help Singapore effectively respond to global developments.

The council is made up of members from diverse backgrounds, including international leaders in AI, advocates of social and consumer interests, and leaders of Singapore companies who are keen to make use of AI.

Press Release in 2018 (396.96KB)

Learn more about Advisory Council on the Ethical Use of AI and Data.